Motor vehicle actuated road speed checking apparatus



NW 27, 1951 A. P. PRATHER ET AL MOTOR VEHICLE ACTUATED ROAD SPEED CHECKING APPARATUS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Oct 5, 1950 I I INVENTOR. lgaa Pi /"02 2 ATTCI RN EYE Nam 27, 9 A. P. PRATHER ET AL MOTOR VEHICLE ACTUATED ROAD SPEED CHECKING APPARATUS 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 I N VEN TOR. PP

Filed Oct. 5, 1950 ATTD R N EYS' Patented Nov. 27, 1951 MOTOR VEHICLE ACTUATED ROAD SPEED CHECKING APPARATUS Asa P. Prather and Otho P. Prather,

Georgetown, Ky.

Application October 5, 1950, Serial No. 188,594

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to signal devices used in combination with motor vehicles on highways, and in particular spaced switches actuated by passing vehicles and signal actuating devices whereby the time it takes a vehicle to travel from one switch to another is indicated.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a device for determining the time it takes a vehicle to travel between spaced measured points on a highway, which is manually controlled whereby the parts are operated only by a selected vehicle, and which is portable so that the entire apparatus may be carried to a selected point on a highway and set up in a comparatively few minutes.

Various types of speed traps and speed and other checking devices have been used in combination with motor vehicles on highways and although some of these use spaced indicating devices extended across the highway, it is difficult to trace a selected car, truck or the like as it passes from one device to another and for this reason speed or time indicating devices of this type are not universally used. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a pair of vehicle actuated devices extended across a highway and connected to signal operating instrumentalities wherein pressure actuated trip devices actuate cut cuts as the front wheel of a vehicle pass one of the devices whereby the rear wheels of the vehicle and also wheels of following vehicles may pass freely without actuating the parts, and whereby as the vehicle that has actuated the signal approaches a second device a circuit is closed through a responsive element which, after being actuated by the vehicle, cuts out the parts whereby the device is not responsive to pressure resulting from the passage of the rear wheels or the wheels of following vehicles.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a speed indicating device for determining the speed of a vehicle on a highway in which the device is responsive only to the action of the front wheels of a selected vehicle passing over the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a speed determining device includin a pair of tubes positioned at spaced intervals on a highway and connected to pressure responsive devices positioned in spaced relation to the tubes whereby an officer after checking the speed of a vehicle traveling between the tubes may approach the vehicle as the vehicle passes the point where the officer is stationed.

A further object of the invention is t provide a vehicle checking device that may be placed at spaced points on a highway in which the speed of a vehicle traveling between the points is indicated at a remote point which is spaced from the said former points.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a motor vehicle speed checking device including spaced tubes positioned on a highway and connected to pressure responsive signal elements and a housing in which the said signal elements are positioned, in which the parts are of a comparatively simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies sections of hose extended across a highway and spaced apart a distance previously chosen to conform with a previously calculated time-speed-distance chart. For illustrative purposes, the hoses are placed 366 feet, 9 inches apart. A car traveling at 25 M. P. H. would require 10 seconds to travel the distance between the hoses. The invention also embodies a checking station approximately 300 feet beyond the last hose to be' passed over by the car being checked. The checkin station contains electrical units and a stop watch and is connected elec-' trically to the highway hoses.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the relative positions of the pressure tubes and clock and switch housing on a roadway.

Figure 2 is also a diagrammatic view on an enlarged scale illustrating the operating instrumentalities and wiring for the circuit and showing a manually actuated switch in a circuit to one of the pressure tubes in'the closed position.

Figure 3 is a similar diagram also showing a switch in the pressure tube circuit closed and illustrating the operation wherein a circuit through the stop watch solenoid is actuating the watch.

Figure 4 is a detail showing the stop watch solenoid with a manually actuated trip holding a tubes l and H positioned on a highway l2 with pressure actuated switches l3 and I4 positioned to be closed by increased pressure in the tubes l0 and II, respectively, a relay solenoid l5, a stop watch l6, and a stop watch actuating solenoid With the parts arranged as disclosed a circuit is normally i-open and vehicles may pass over the tubes In and H without operating parts of the circuits, however, as a selected vehicle approaches the tube In a switch I8 is closed man ually, by an operator at a station in which the instrument l9 may be positioned, which may be located at a point 20, in relation to the tubes I0 and I I and as the front wheels of the vehicle pass over the pressure tube ID a circuit is completed to the solenoid l which closes acircuit to the solenoid "and the solenoid l1 starts the stop watch I 5. This circuit is instantly broken so that as the rear wheels of the vehicle pass over the tube It), oras other vehicles pass over the tube the parts of the circuits do not operate.

As the selected vehicle approaches the second pressure tube H, the switch 2| is closed manually and as the front wheels pass over the tube l l the same circuit-is completed so that the stop watch is again actuated'to stop the watch. By this means the time'required for the vehicle to travel from the tube Hi to the tube i! is indicated on the stop watch.

To reset the mechanism a button 22 on the housing i9 is pressed and a circuit is completed to the solenoid H whereby the stop watch is reset to zero.

The signal instigating-devices l0 and i i may be in the form of pneumatic hose, photo-electric cells, commonly referred to as the electric eye, or other signal sending devices. In the design shown it i's preferred to use pneumatic hose and thehose is extended across the roadway at the spa'cedpoints as illustrated in Figure I.

1 The pressure :actuated:switch 13" of the tube H3 connected in the circuit by wires .23 and Hand the switch 14 "of the tube H is connected in the same circuit by wires 23 and 25,, thewire 23 being used in both circuits. These wires extend to plugs 26 and 2! and may be inserted in socketsr28 in the housing 19 and current supply wires 29 and-3!! may also be connected to the housing through a plug 31 and a socket 32 i As illustrated in Figure 2 wherein the switch I3 is indicated at the point 33, the wire 23 con nects "one terminal of the switch to contact arms 34 and 35 of a relay in which the solenoid 5 is positioned and the wire 23 is connected by a wire 36 to a source of electric current. The wire 24 from the opposite terminal of the switch it is connected to one terminal of the switch 18, the opposite terminal of the switch 18 being connected by a wire '31 to one side of the solenoid 15 through a wire -38, and from the opposite terminal of the solenoid, the circuit is completed to a source of electric current through a wire '39. By this means, with the switch it manually closed and with the switch at the point 33 closed by a vehicle passing over the tube In a circuit is completed to the solenoid 15 which draws the armature 40 of the relay downwardly, from the position shown in Figure 2, thereby closing the upper pair of contacts 41 and 42 and also a lower pair of contacts 43 and 44. v

The-contact fl is positioned on the upper contact arm '34 and as it is engaged by the contact 4| on the upper arm 45 the circuit is completed through a wire '46 to a lever 41 and :from the lever 41 through a contact 48 and the wire 49, to the solenoid IT. The solenoid is connected, at one side, to the wire 49 through a wire 50, and at the other to the source of current supply through a wire 5|.

By this means a circuit is completed to the solenoid 11 through the wire 35 and the wire 23 to the contact arm 34 and from the 'arm 34 through the contacts 41 and 42 and the contact arm 45, through the Wire 45, to the lever 41. From the contact 48 the circuit extends to the wire 49 and from the wire 49 through the wire 55 tothe solenoid from which it passes through the wire 5| back to the source of current through the wire 39.

As the solenoid H is energized the core 52 thereof moves upwardly, and the core actuates a lever 53' pivotally mounted on a bracket 54 by a pin 55 with the end 56 of the core engaging a section 5! of the leverQand with the opposite end 58 of. the lever engaging a pin 49 slidably mounted in a bracket 60 and positioned to engage a button (ii of the stop watch it.

Upward movement of the lever 55 is controlled by a set screw 52 that is threaded in an arm 53 of the bracket 54 and retained in adjusted positions by a lock nut 54.

In this movement a screw 55 threaded in an arm 55 of the lever 53 engages a pin 61 on the under surface of the lever 41 whereby the lever 41 is moved upwardly over a projection 68 on an arm 69 which is pivotally mounted in the housing by a pin 10. As the end-ofthe lever 41 passes over the projection 58 it is retained in the upwardly extended position whereby the contact point H on the lower side thereof is separated from the contact 48 and the circuit to the solenoid I! is broken. The lever 41- is-resi-liently urged downwardly by a spring 12 on a lug 13 of a bracket 14 on which the lever 4'! is'pivotally mounted by a pin 15. T

By this means a circuit'is temporarily completed through the solenoid H as the front wheels of a vehicle pass over the tube Hi and as the lever 41 is held, upwardly by the projection 58 the circuit is instantly broken to prevent a repeat operation which would stop the stop watch.

This operation starts the stop watch and the watch continues to run until the front wheels of the vehicle pass over the tube H and the circuit to the switch [4 of the tube H iscompleted loyaswi-tch 2| which is manually closed by an oper ator in a booth or station at the point 20.

As the selected vehicle, which has been permitted to actuate the circuit as the front Wheels thereof travel over the tube 10, approaches the tube H the switch 2! is manually closed and a circuit is completed through the wires 2-3 and 25, the terminals 15 and 11 of which are closed by the switch .I 4 whereby a circuit is completed from the source of current supply through the wire .35, and the wire 2-3, to the terminal 16 and from the terminal Tl through the wire 25. .to the switch 2 From the opposite terminal of the switch the .circuit is completed through a wire 13 and the wire 38 to the solenoid l5, and from the solenoid back to the source of current supply through the wire The solenoid 15 then repeats the cycle-oi operations whereby the end 58 of the lever 53 actuates the button Bl of thestop watch .to stop the watch.

The device is also provided. with aholding .ci-rcuit whereby a circuit .is maintained through the solenoid I5 by the contacts 43 and 44 even though the circuit resulting from the impulse actions of the-pressure tubes In and is of short duration. The holding circuit is connected to a source of current supply through the wire 36 and the upper part of the wire 23 to the contact 35 through the points 43 and 44 to a contact arm 19 which is connected by a wire 80 to a lever 8|, pivotally mounted by a pin 82 on the frame 83 and resiliently held by a spring 84, and from the lever 8| the circuit is carried through contact points 85 and 86, the point 85 being positioned on the lever 8| and the point 86 on a bracket 81. From the bracket 81 the circuit is completed by a wire 88 which extends to the wire 30 and by this wire the circuit is completed to one side of the solenoid l5, the opposite side of which is connected to the other wire 39 which extends to the source of current supply. This holding circuit retains the contacts 4| and 42 closed even though the contacts "H and 48 are held open.

The holding circuit is broken by a button 89 on a rod 99 which is slidably mounted in an opening 9! in the bracket 92 and resiliently held in the position shown in Figure 2 by a spring 93. The rod 98 is provided with a collar 94 which engages the upper end of the lever 8| and as the button 89 is pressed inwardly the contacts 85 and 86 are separated, thereby temporarily opening the holding circuit.

The inner end of the rod 98 is pivotally connected to the upper end of the arm 69 by a pin 95 and as the arm is actuated by the rod the projection 68 moves away from the end of the lever 41 whereby the lever 4'! is released so that contact H again engages the contact 48 whereby the circuit to the solenoid I! is again set whereby the cycle may be repeated as the vehicle passes over the tubes I9 and II. The arm 69 and the inner end of the rod 9|] are retained in position by a pin 96 which extends below the inner end of the rod, as shown in Figure 2.

The holding circuit holds the armature 40 of the solenoid |5 downwardly and as the circuit is broken by the button 89 the spring 9'! draws the armature upwardly, thereby opening the contacts 4| and 42, and also the contacts 43 and 44. The armature 40 is slidably mounted in openings in bars 98 and 99, which extend from the wall I09 of the housing.

After the complete cycle of operations it is desired to reset the needle of the stop watch back to zero and for this purpose the button 22 is provided which actuates a switch IDI that is resiliently held in the open position by a spring I02 and, as illustrated in Figure 2 one terminal of the switch is connected by a wire I03 to the source of current supply by the wire 36 and the other terminal of the switch is connected to a wire I84 which is connected to one side of the solenoid I! through the wire 50, the other side of the solenoid being connected by the wire 5| back to the source of current supply through the wire 39.

This device is disclosed as actuating a stop watch, and it will be understood that the end 58 of the lever 53, may operate indicating or recording means of any other type and particularly such as recording on or actuating a tape, wire, or disc.

It will be understood that although this device is disclosed and described as being used for indicating the speed of a vehicle passing from the tube It! to the tube II, it may also be used for various other purposes, such as actuating air operated road switches and signals or it may be used for counting vehicles passing over certain points, and for other purposes.

By this means an ofiicer in a station or booth at the point 20 may readily check the speed of a selected vehicle traveling from the tube It! to the tube II and by the time the vehicle reaches the point 26 the officer may signal the operator of the vehicle, advising him to stop, without the use of sirens and without the necessity of chasing cars at high speeds through trafiic.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicle speed indicator, the combination which comprises pressure tubes positioned at spaced points across a highway, switches positioned to be closed by increase of pressure in the said pressure tubes, a housing, a relay having a plurality of pairs of contact points positioned to be closed by a solenoid therein positioned in the housing, a stop watch in the housing, a, lever pivotally mounted in the housing and positioned to actuate starting, stopping and resetting means of the stop watch, a solenoid mounted in the housing and positioned to actuate the said lever for operating the stop watch, circuits connecting the switches actuated by the pressure tubes to the said solenoids, manually actuated switches in the said circuits whereby the circuits to the pressure tubes are set manually as a selected vehicle approaches one of the tubes, means breaking the circuit to the solenoid of the stop Watch actuating lever upon completion of the operation thereof, mean manually releasing the said circuit breaking means, means manually completing a circuit to the stop watch actuating lever solenoid for resetting the stop watch, a holding circuit for completing a circuit to the solenoid of the relay, and means manually opening the said holding circuit.

2. In a vehicle speed'indicator, the combination which comprises pressure tubes positioned at spaced points across a highway, switches positioned to be closed by increase of pressure in the asid pressure tubes, a housing, a relay having a plurality of pairs of contact points positioned to be closed by a solenoid therein positioned in the housing, a stop watch in the housing, a lever pivotally mounted in the housing and positioned to actuate starting, stopping and resettin means of the stop watch, a solenoid mounted in the housing and positioned to actuate the said lever for operating the stop watch, circuits connecting the switches actuated by the pressure tubes to the said solenoids, manually actuated switches in the said circuits whereby the circuits to the pressure tubes are closed manually as a selected vehicle approaches one of the tubes, means breaking the circuit to the solenoid of the stop watch actuating lever upon completion of the operation thereof, means manually releasing the said circuit breaking means, means manually completing a circuit to the stop watch actuating lever solenoid for resetting the stop watch, a holding circuit for completing a circuit to the solenoid of the relay, and means manually opening the said holding circuit and simultaneously releasing the circuit breaking means of the solenoid with the stop watch actuating lever.

3. In a vehicle speed indicator, the combination which comprises pressure tubes positioned at spaced points across a highway, switches positioned to be closed by increase of pressure in the said pressure tubes, a housing, a relay having a plurality of pairs of contact points positioned to the losed tyua solenoid therein pns tien i the-housing,- a .stop. watch in the housing, a lever Divotaliy mounted in the h us n and pos ti ne to actuate starting, stopping and resetting means of the stop watch a solenoid m unt d in th housin and positioned to actuate the a dvl e for operating the stop watch, circuits connecting the switches actuated by the pressure tubes to the said solenoids, manually actuated switches in the said c rcuits wh reby t e cir uits o the press-me tubes areclosed manually as a selected vehicle approaches one of the tubes, means actuated by the said lever that operates the. stop watch :ioi' bre kin c r uit o th sol no d 0f th said lever upo compl tion o th p ion thete i, in manual y :r leasine th s d .circuit hreawnszmeans, means manuall c mp tin a circuit e the step watch actuating l e 01 noid tor tese t'ne s p wa h a o ng i suit :for eomele ns .a circu t t the s enoi of therelay, and, m ans m nua -1y ening he sai c1 simul ane us y rele s n the means po iticned at pa e mints n a h hway, switches posit tied to be closed by said signal m ans tho-usin a r lay in t e using n having contact points positioned to be closed by solenoids therein, an indicating means in the hou i g. a lever pi otal-1y mounte in the h usin nd pos t oned t a tuate star ng stopping and e ttin means of th indica n means, a sole n id p s i ned t ac ua the sa d lever, circuits connecting the switches actuated by the ,sa i,d si l an o the hi hway t the solenoids, manually actuated switches in the said circuits, means breaking the circuit to the solenoid of the indicating means actuating lever :upQn sompletion of the operation thereof, means manu ally releasing the said circuit breaking means, and means manual-1y completing the circuit to the said indicating means actuating lever solenoid for resetting the indicating means.

ASA ;P. FEATHER. OTI-IO P. PRATHER.

v BEFE GE CIT-ED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

